interview attire?

Question

Hi folks,
What are you planning to wear to your b-school interviews? Are suits the way to go? Something less formal? Does it matter if the interview is on campus or off?

I realize that for recruiting events w/ companies, suits are the way to go. I'm just not sure how that extends to school interviews...

Thanks,
ac.

Thanks, ac.

dabots · Answer

if you are interviewing on campus, definitely dress formal in a suit. otherwise you should try to match your interviewer... if it is an interview at a workplace during the workweek, go formal. if it is during the weekend at a cafe, business casual should be fine.

riverripper · Answer

I would go with a suit just in case...there was a discussion on what women should wear since it was a little more specific.

isa · Answer

thanks all! I saw the thread of women's business attire but I didn't see any posts on interviews for school - it was focused more towards interviews whilst recruiting...I'll take another look.

It's about that time to buy fall clothes and I wanted to make sure I got interview-friendly stuff - somehow I don't think formal skirt/sweater/knee-high boots (what I wear to work during fall) will cut it for interviews!

cheers,
ac.

cheers, ac.

solaris1 · Answer

I would probably just ask the interviewer straight up if business attire would be too much? But ac, I'd definitely skip the knee-high boots either way.

isa · Answer

I know, I know - the boots would've been too much but had to try :wink:

I'll probably go with a suit just to be on the safe side! thanks, ac.

riverripper · Answer

I am of the mind, interviewing for business school is like interviewing for a job...so dress like you would to interview for the jobs you hope to go after while in school. It shows you can look the part.

isa · Answer

makes sense river - thanks!

terry12 · Answer

Definitely go with business attire if the interview's at the school or at the interviewer's workplace. For alumni interviews at cafes, etc., I'd just ask the interviewer. I wore business casual for my Stanford interview at a Starbucks and I'm pretty sure kryzak wrote about a similar experience for one of his schools (was it Kellogg, kry?).

P.s. If you do go with the boots, we all expect a picture.

P.s. If you do go with the boots, we all expect a picture.

isa · Answer

thanks terry! good call on adapting the wardrobe to the settings of the interview... Looks like I'll have to hit the fall sales for a decent suit

thanks all! ac.

rigger · Answer

on campus = business 
off campus = business casual (most interviewers don't wear suits at their jobs, unless it's nyc or something)

refurb · Answer

How about places like Duke that specifically state the on-campus interview is "business casual". Just ignore the comment and wear a suit?

RF

RVD · Answer

unless they specify otherwise, i would wear a suit. nobody is going to be offended that you wore a suit but if you show up in business casual, there is a change that you will offend someone.

in addition, if you are the interviewer and every single person you see for the day comes in wearing a suit and you don't, they might remember you as "the guy who didn't wear the suit"...not good.

RVD.

interview attire?

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